The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani militants, overcame security guards and forced their way into Bethel Baptist boarding school in Kaduna at 2am on 5 July. They kidnapped most of 180 students who attend the school. A few managed to escape, according to reports.
The exact numbers of high school students abducted is still unknown. Estimates vary from 140 to 164.
News agency AFP says this is the fourth mass school kidnapping in Kaduna state since December. It’s estimated that more Christians are kidnapped in Nigeria than any other country in the world.
The Nigerian government has blamed bandits for the growing numbers of kidnappings and attacks against its Christian population. But international observers recognise a religious dimension behind many of the attacks.
The declared aim of Boko Haram is to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state. It has ordered its supporters to kill Christians. In the four months from January to April 2021 Nigeria lost 1,470 Christians… the highest number recorded since 2014.
Pray for these children, that God will bring them comfort and restore them to their families.
Pray for their families at home, not knowing what has happened to them.
Pray that the Nigerian Government will step in.
Pray that the kidnappers will come to know Christ as their personal Saviour.
Source: Release international, Sky News, BBC, Washington post, AFP.
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